Cabinet for sewing machines



March 1954 A. B. BARNHART 2,673,776

CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 30, @951 3 Sheets-Sheet l l INVENTOR. (@dam @akw @QVMlld'l/T A WITNESS BY March 1954 A. B. BARNHART CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 50, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w a 1 m J Y Wm H mJ W S V d r MM m W N mm Y a %w Y B 0 March 30, 1954 A. B. BARNHART CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 30, 1951 I N V EN TOR. (726161144 vfiakew' @aamllml BY WITNESS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Adam Baker Barnhart, New York, N. Y., asslgnor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabcth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 30, 1951, Serial No. 239,284

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a cabinet for a sewing machine and has for its primary object to provide such a cabinet of an improved nature which will facilitate the manipulation by the operator of goods being sewn.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a cabinet that is sufiiciently sturdy to support a sewing machine while it is being used and while it is being stored, and also to provide a cabinet which can be closed to store a sewing machine, and when closed, to provide a neat and attractive article of furniture, and which can be opened to adapt the machine for use, and when open, to provide in a novel manner, a more convenient and usable working area.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine cabinet that includes a top and a hinged leaf that are formed in a novel manner such that a more useful arrangement of Working area is obtained when the leaf is swung to its open position.

Having in mind these and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art to readily understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine cabinet embodying the features of my invention and shown in the open condition.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sewing machine shown in Fig. 1, also shown in the open condition, with a sewing machine shown in phantom lines, and having parts broken away to more clearly show the details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the sewing machine control mechanism per se.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but on a larger scale showing the rear side of the knee-control lever hinge.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section view showing the details of the latch for the pivoted front panel of the cabinet.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective View showing the details of the latch for the pivoted side panel of the cabinet.

With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate the invention includes a boxlike body portion It! having a top ll formed substantially as an isosceles trapezoid having major angles, 1. e.. the angles between the front edge and side edges, of substantially degrees, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, and supported by four legs I2, l3, l4 and I5.

Depending from the top H adjacent the edges thereof and secured thereto by right-angled brackets l l are a rear wall IS, a side wall IT, a short side wall l8, and a continuous curved front and side wall l9. The brackets ll comprise two apertured legs formed at a right angle to each other and screws passing through the apertured legs into the top and adjacent wall. The rear wall [6 is arranged along the long one of the parallel edges of the top H and at its ends it is secured to corner pieces 20 and 2| which are located directly below the acute angled corners of the top H. Along the right side of the box-like body portion l 0 as seen in the Fig. 2, the side wall I! is arranged with the one end thereof also connected to the corner piece 2i and the other end connected to a corner piece 22 located below the obtuse angled corner at the right as seen in Fig. 2. Along the left side, the short side wall 18 is arranged with the one end thereof connected to the corner piece 20, and

carrying at the inner side of the other end a spacer block 23. Secured to the inner face of the spacer block 23 is one end of the angular wall I9 which extends along the left side of the cabinet forwardly from the short wall IB to the front and across the front to where its other end is secured to the corner piece 22. The above connections between the walls and the corner pieces are rabbeted to provide a neater and more substantial joint.

One arm of a hinge 24 is secured to the free edge of the side wall [8 the other arm of the hinge being secured to a side panel 25, said hinge serving to pivotally mount the side panel 25 upon the side wall [8 in edge to edge relationship. Outward movement of the panel 25 about the hinge 24 is limited by the stop 25a which includes two plates 25b and 250 hinged together by a pin 25d, as more clearly seen in Fig. 7. The plate 25?) is pivotally secured to the side panel 25 and in a like manner the plate 25a is pivotally secured to the wall [9. In the open position when the plates are normally a slight distance past an in-line position, they are releasably locked by a latch arm 25c secured at one end to'tlge plate 25b and carrying at" its other end an. ear 25f that limits the pivotal -movement of theplates about the hinge 25d, and a bead 25g which lies on the other side of the plate 250 to releasably resist pivotal movement of the plates towards the closed position. In swinging the panel to the open or closed position, the plate 250 must ride over the bead 25g by depressing it against the resilient action of the latch arm 25c.

At its outer or free edge, the panel 25 carries a corner piece 26. The panel 25 and side wall I8 are so dimensioned relative to each other that when the panel 25 is in the closed position, the corner piece 26 will lie under the obtuse angled corner at the left of the top H as seen in Fig. 2, and when in this condition the two will approximate the side wall H in size and appearance.

Adjacent each of the corner pieces. 20, 2!, 22 and 26, there is secured a leg l2, l3, l4 and I5 respectively. The legs are identical and each comprises an upper attaching portion 2? and a lower portion 28 of circular cross-section tapered downwardly, e., the circular cross-sections of the legs are of decreasing diameter downwardly. The upper attaching portion is substantially rectangular in cross-section, which cross-sectional area is substantially constant throughout. The rectangular attaching portion is formed by slabbing off a rectangular portion of a square area equal in dimensions to the diameter of the leg at the upper portion and overlying the circular leg, i. e. the sides of the square area are tangential to the circular area at points spaced 90 apart. By slabbing away a rectangular portion of the square area there is formed an exposed upper portion of the circular area which constitutes a ledge having a flat face rising from the inner edge at a right angle thereto. Each of the legs is secured to a flat inwardly directed face of one of the corner pieces with the flat face of the corner piece abutting against the fiat slabbed face of the leg, and with the corner piece having a. portion of the bottom surface resting on the ledge. Wedges 29 are inserted between the side walls and the legs l4 and 15 to provide flat right angular surfaces which receive the legs in abutting relationship with two of the surfaces of the rectangular attaching portions 2! to properly position the legs and to secure them in the desired position. Braces 3B are provided adjacent the legs I2, l3, M to add stability to the box-like body portion H As more clearly seen in Fig. 3, the braces 30 are arranged in pairs, one of each of the pairs being located adjacent the top of the leg attaching portion 2'! and the other near the bottom of it. The braces adjacent the leg [4 are larger than the others and the lower of the two is higher (not shown) than the other lower braces to accommodate the control mechanism of the machine, as hereinafter set forth.

In the interests of clarity, the connecting means between the elements herelnbefore described, for the most part, have not been illustrated on the drawings. It is to be understood. that these connections form no part of the present invention and any suitable and well known expedients may be employed, such as glue, wood screws, etc. The only limitations on the selection of the connecting means to be used is that, since the cabinet is to constitute an article of furniture, they must not only be rigid but must also be neat and attractive.

One arm of a hinge 3|, see Fig. 6, is secured to one edge or the corner piece 22; the other arm of the hinge being secured to a side edge of a front panel 32 to pivotally secure the front panel to the corner piece. Carried by the hinged panel 32 on the inner face thereof is a utility tray 33 for holding the sewing paraphernalia used with the machine, such as needles, thread, etc. The lower brace 30 adjacent the leg !4 is sufiiciently high as not to interfere with the tray 33 when the panel 32 is closed. Carried by the panel 32 near the outer edge is a catch 34 for locking the side panel 25 in closed position, which catch consists of a right angle piece of sheet metal secured to the panel 32 by screws passing through the one arm and having the other arm tapered outwardly. This arm is adapted to enter between the side panel 25 and a strap 35 secured thereto, see Figs. 1 and 2, and thus lock the side panel in closed position. The front panel 32 is releasably held in closed position by means of a spring pressed detent 32a secured to the under side of the top I l which cooperates with a recess 32b carried by the panel.

Pivotal movement of the front panel is limited by a stop lever 36, which also serves to releasably lock the panel in open position. The lever 33 is formed somewhat arcuate and is provided at one end with an aperture adapted to receive a pivot pin 31. Circular plates 39 and 40 are fitted into the countersunk portion of a recess 4! formed in the panel 32. The plates 39 and 40 are both provided with a central horizontal slot 42 and 43, respectively, to receive the end of the lever 36. The plate 39 is further provided with two slits, one on each side of the slot therein and parallel thereto. The strips 1 of metal 44 lying between the slits and the slot are expanded inwardly as clearly seen in Fig. 6 to provide a recess that receives the pivot pin 31, which is held therein by the plate 40.

The wall I9 is provided with an aperture 45 therethro'ugh, the ends of which are countersunk to receive plates 46 and 4! held in the desired position by bolts 48. Both of the plates 46 and 41 have central horizontal slots 49 and 56 respectively to receive the end of the lever 36. A recess 5| is formed in the end or the lever 36 which recess is adapted to embrace the plate 45 at the end of the slot 49. A leaf spring 52 which is clamped between the plate 46 and the floor of the countersunk portion of the aperture 45 by the bolt 48 includes a portion that engages the lever 36 and biases it to the left as seen in Fig. 6 and which thus urges the recess 5! towards the cooperating portion of the plate 45. The leaf spring 52 is restrained against rotation about the bolt 48 by an ear 53 struck up from the end thereof which engages in a slot 54 in the plate 46. By the above construction, it will be noted, that the recess 5| will engage about the plate 46 at the end of the slot 49 as the panel 32 is swung to its open position about the hinge 3| to limit the opening movement of the panel 32 and also to lock it against closing. To close the panel 32 it is necessary only to manually depress the lever 33 to release the recess 5!. The end of the lever 35 adjacent the recess 5! is turned downwardly (not shown) at a right angle to prevent the lever from being pulled through and free of the plates 46 and 41.

The top H of the cabinet is provided with an elongated rectangular sewing machine receiving aperture 55, the center line of which is inclined to the parallel edges of the top and a portion of which is closed by the pivoted cover member 56 hinged at 51 in the usual manner. When the down position in which the cover 56 is coplanar with the top H, the forward side edges thereof rest upon stops SBsecured to the under side of the top I l. A sewing machine 59, shown in phantom lines in Fig. 2 is pivoted to the top H by means of the usual hinges 60 secured to the top. The machine 59 is adapted to be supported with the bed thereof substantially horizontal by means of the hinges 60 and a ledge Bl secured to the cover member 55 upon which the forward edge of the bed of the machine rests. When the machine is not desired for use, it may be swung into the confines of the box-like body member It by raising the cover member 55 and dropping the machine about the hinges 6i until the bed thereof contacts a stop block 62 secured to the inside of the rear wall IE. An oil uard 63 is located below the machine to catch whatever oil that may drip therefrom. The guard 63 is secured at one edge to the under side of a ledge piece 64 that in turn is secured to the rear wall it. The opposite or forward edge of the guard is supported by a bracket 65 that consists of a strip of sheet metal bent into U-shape longitudinally to embrace the edge of the guard and secured at the opposite ends to the wall l9 and top H.

The mechanism for manually controlling the operation of the sewing machine, as seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 comprises an anchor bar 66 having an anchor section 61 and a supporting section (is bent at an angle to each other, the angle being equal to the angle between the front wall l9 and the free or inner edge of the brace 39 adjacent the leg M. The anchor section 61 is provided with apertures 69 adapted to receive screws to secure it to the lower one of the braces 30 adjacent the leg 14. The anchor bar 66 is secured to the brace 30 with the supporting section 68 lying parallel to the front wall l9 and spaced therefrom by an apertured spaced ear 68 which is adapted to receive a screw that secures the ear to the front wall l9.

Projecting laterally from the upper edge of the anchor section 67 is an car 10 which carries a pivot bolt H upon which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends an arm 12 of an actuating link 13. The link 13 also includes an abutting member 74 projecting downwardly from one end of the arm 12, and a reinforcing member 15 for the abutting member also projecting downwardly from the arm 12. The abutting member 14 is adapted to contact a plunger 16 of a control l! for the sewing machine motor, which is electrically connected to a source of power and to the motor of the machine. In the usual manner, depressing and releasing the plunger 16 will start and stop the machine, and the degree to which the plunger is depressed will control the speed of the machine.

At the end of the arm 12 opposite from the abutting member M, there is provided a pivot bolt 18 which pivotally connects the arm 12 to a pitman 19. At its opposite end, the pitman I9 is pivotally connected as by a pivot bolt,8 0 to one end of a short link 8!, which in turn lslpivoted to the supporting section 68 of the bar 66 by a pivot bolt 82. A coil tension spring 83 is connected at one end to the member 74 and at the other end to the pitman i9 and thus urges the member 14 away from the plunger id which motion is limited. by an ear 84 bent from the loweijedge of the link 8! and adapted to underlie the supporting section 68 of the bar 66.1" The ear, 8'41 thus limits pivotal movement of the link 8! about the pivot bolt 82 and consequently limits the movement of the abutting member under the action of the spring 83.

To actuate the above control mechanism in a manner to depress the plunger 16, there is provided a knee-control lever pivoted on the bolt 82 adjacent its upper end. The upper edge of the lever 85 is formed with an arcuate surface 85' extending substantially ninety degrees about the pivot 82, terminating in a shoulder 86 which, upon rotation of the knee-control lever to its retracted position, i. e. to a position substantially in line with the supporting section 68 of the bar 65 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, will serve as a stop. The lever 85 is frictionally held in this retracted position by a cup-shaped washer 81' which is spring-like in character. When the machine is set up for use the lever 35 is swung through an arc of aproximately ninety degrees about the pivot 82 against the frictional resistance. At this point, which is substantially the termination of the arcuate surface 85', the side edge of the lever 35, which is tangential with respect to the arcuate surface, will engage a 111g- 88, see Fig. 5, bent from the link 8!. With the machine prepared for service, the operator can engage the lever 85 with her knee. Pressure thus exerted upon the lever in the direction of the arrow A as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, will cause the lever and the link 8i which is now locked to the lever for rotation therewith, to swing about the pivot 82 and exert a pull upon the pitman it which causes the arm 12 to swing about the pivot l! and to cause the member 14 to depress the plunger 56 which energizes the sewing machine.

, The degree to which the lever 85 is moved will determine the extent to which the plunger iii is depressed and thus determine the speed of the machine. Releasing the lever 65 will permit the spring 83 to retract the abutting member 7:; and thus release the plunger 18 and stop the machine.

Pivoted to the top H at the one edge thereof as by hinges 89 is a leaf 90 congruent with the top it and in its open position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, supported upon the leg is and outwardly swung side panel 25.

In view of the fact that the leaf 9i! and top H are pivoted along one edge thereof, which edge is inclined to the front and rear edges of the top, it will be seen that upon swinging the leaf to its open position the parallel front and rear edge of the leaf will also be at an angle to the corresponding edges of the top. In the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the side edges are substantially at an angle of to the front edge and at an angle of 70 to the rear edge, the leaf will extend forwardly and to the side with respect to the front edge of the top at an angle of Since the leaf 99 is inclined forwardly with respect to the top I l and, as hereinbefore stated, the sewing machine is also inclined with respect to the top i i with the needle end thereof being located more forwardly than the standard end, a more convenient work-sup porting area is obtained. It will also be noted N that the operator can use the leaf 9i? as a rest for her left arm to steady that arm which will facilitate control and in other manipulations of the work.

While in the disclosed preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angles between the side edges and the front edge of the top and leaf are 110 and the angles between the side edges and the rear edge are 70, it will be obvicus that these angles are not critical. From a practical standpoint they should be 100-120 and 60-80, respectively, but within the spirit of this invention they could even be in the order of 95-135 and 45-85. In addition, it will be evident that the cabinet need not be in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid or the front edge of the top need not be straight as herein shown. The desired advantages derived from the present invention may be obtained, in the event that the front edge of the top is not straight, by forming the side edge of the top to which the leaf is hinged at an obtuse angle to a tangent to the top at the corner defined by the front edge and the side edge, or at an obtuse angle to a line drawn between the extremities of the front edge of the top.

It will also be apparent that the benefits derived from the present invention could also be obtained by arranging the centerline of the sewing machine receiving aperture 55 parallel to rather than inclined to the front edge of the top as herein illustrated.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred em-- bodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation thereof. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of my invention are intended to be included within the purview of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

l. A cabinet for a sewing machine, comprising a top, walls depending from the top adjacent the periphery thereof, and legs secured to the walls, said walls including a short wall extending along a portion only of one side edge, an integral wall extending along the front edge and the remainder of said side edge between the forward end of the short side wall and the proximate front edge of the top, said integral wall being set inwardly from the periphery of the top, a side panel hinged to the forward end of the short side wall and adapted to be swung into closed position to lie in the plane of the short side wall outside the adjacent portion of the integral wall, and a front panel hinged at one end adjacent the one end of the integral wall and adapted to be swung into closed position to underlie the edge of the top and to lie outside the adjacent portion of the integral wall.

2. A cabinet for a sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 and having a leaf hinged to the top along said side edge, a leg carried at the free end of said side panel, said side panel and the leg secured thereto being adapted to be s ung outwardly to a position underlying the leaf when it is in its open position, thereby to support the leaf.

3. drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge, at least one straight side edge formed at an obtuse angle of between 95 and 135 to the front edge, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, a plurality of legs for supporting said top in spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting surface, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said. top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, a leaf having a straight side edge, and hinge means secured to said top and said leaf along said side edges for pivotally securing said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to 8 overlie the top when in the closed position and adapted to lie in the plane of said top when in the open position.

4. A drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge, at least one straight side edge formed at an obtuse angle between and to the front edge, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, a portion of the walls being hinged on an axis normal to said top and arranged adjacent the corner defined by said front and side edges to be swung outwardly from a position underlying the periphery of the top, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, the minor dimension of the aperture being greater than the transverse dimension of the base of a sewing machine adapted to be received therein, sewing machine hinge means secured to said top along one of the major edges of the aperture and adapted to be fastened to one of the longitudinal edges of a sewing machine base for pivotally mounting the same to said top, a cover member pivotally mounted to the other of the major edges of the aperture for reducing the minor dimension of the aperture substantially to the transverse dimension of a base of a sewing machine adapted to be received therein; a ledge carried by said cover member for underlying the longitudinal edge of the machine base opposite the hinged edge thereby to support the same in operative position, whereby a sewing machine is adapted to be held in operative position overlying the aperture by said hinge means and said ledge and to be swung through the aperture about the hinge means to an inoperative position within the space defined by the top and the walls, a plurality of legs for supporting said top in spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting surface, a leaf having a side edge, and hinge means secured to said top and leaf along said side edges for pivotally securing said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and adapted to lie in the plane of the top when in the open position.

5. A drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, one of said side edges being straight and formed at an obtuse angle of between 95 and 135 to a straight line drawn between the extremities of the front edge, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, a plurality of legs for supporting said topin spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting surface, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receivL g space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, a leaf having a side edge and a front edge conforming in configuration to the corresponding edges of the top, said side edge of the leaf being angular-1y related to a straight line between the extremities of said front edge at an angle corresponding to the angle between the side edge of the top and a straight line between the extremities of the front edge of the top, and hinge means secured to said top and said leaf along said straight side edge of the top and the corresponding side edge of the leaf for piyotally mounting said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and 9 to lie in the plane of the top but with the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge thereof inclined to the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge of the top when in the open position.

6. A drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, one of said side edges being straight and formed at an -btuse angle of between 95 and 135 to a straight line drawn between the extremities of the front edge, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, sewing machine hinge means secured to said top along one of the major edges of said aperture, a plurality of legs for supporting said top in spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting surface, a leaf having front and rear edges and a substantially straight side edge angularly related to a straight line between the extremities of the front edge at an angle corresponding to the angle between the side edge and a straight line between the extremities of the front edge of the top, hinge means secured to said top and said leaf along said straight side edge of the top and the corresponding side edge of the leaf for pivotally mountmg said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and to lie in the plane of the top but with the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge thereof inclined to the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge of the top when in the open position, and walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, one portion of the wall being pivotally mounted to be swung outwardly to a position underlying said leaf.

7. A cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge and a rear edge formed substantially parallel to each other, and a side edge formed substantially straight and at an obtuse angle to the front edge and an acute angle to the rear edge, said top being provided with an elongated aperture adapted to receive a sewing machine, the longitudinal center line of said aperture extending laterally and rearwardly of the top from adjacent the corner formed by the front edge and said side edge, 'a leaf of substantially the same size and shape as the top hinged thereto along said side edges, whereby the leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and to lie in the plane of but with the parallel edges thereof inclined to the parallel edges of the top when in the open position, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof, said aperture having a portion thereof closed by a cover member located in the plane of and pivoted to the top and a sewing machine being adapted to be pivoted to the top at the edge of the aperture opposite to the hinged edge of the cover member and adapted to be held in operative position overlying the aperture by the pivot and said cover member and to be swung through the aperture to an inoperative position within the space defined by the top and the wall for storing.

8. A cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge and a rear edge formed substantially parallel to each other, and a side edge formed substantially straight and at an obtuse angle to the front edge and an acute angle to the rear edge, a leaf of substantially the same size and shape as the top hinged thereto along said side edge, whereby the leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and to lie in the plane of but with the parallel edge thereof inclined to the parallel edges of the top when in the open position, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof, a panel adapted to underlie the periphery of the top and being hinged on a vertical axis adjacent said side edge, legs secured to the walls at the corners thereof, and a leg carried at the extremity of the hinged panel, whereby the panel and the leg carried thereby may be swung outwardly from the walls of the cabinet to underlie the leaf and thereby to support it.

9. A drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top formed substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid having a major angle of between and an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, sewing machine hinge means secured to said top along one of the major edges of said aperture, a plurality of legs for supporting said top in spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting surface, a leaf having parallel front and rear edges and a straight side edge angularly related thereto at angles corresponding to the major and minor angles of said trapezoidal top, hinge means secured to said top and leaf along one of the non-parallel edges of the top and said side edge of the leaf for pivotally mounting said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and to lie in the plane of the top but with the parallel edges thereof inclined to the parallel edges of the top when in the open position, and walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, one portion of the wall being pivotally mounted about an axis normal to the top and arranged adjacent the juncture of the front edges of the top and leaf to be swung outwardly to a position underlying said leaf.

10. A drop-head cabinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top formed substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid and having major angles of between 95 and 135", the shorter of the parallel edges comprising a front edge, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, a portion of the walls being hinged on an axis normal to said top and arranged adjacent the one corner of the front edge to be swung outwardly from a position underlying the periphery of the top, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, the minor dimension of the aperture being greater than the transverse dimension of the base of a sewing machine adapted to be received therein, hinge means secured to said top along one of the major edges of the aperture and adapted to be fastened to one of the longitudinal edges of a sewing machine base for pivotally mounting the same to said top, a cover meinber pivotally mounted to the other of the major edges of the aperture for reducing the minor dimension of the aperture substantially to the transverse dimension of a base of a sewing base adapted to be received therein, a ledge carried by said cover member for underlying the longituolinal edge of the machine base opposite the hinged edge thereby to support the same in operative position; whereby a sewing machine is adapted to be held in operative position overlying the aperture by the hinge 'means and cover rnemberand to be swung through the aperture about the hinge means to an inoperative posh tion within the space defined by the top and the walls, a plurality of legs secured to said top ior' supporting the same in spaced and substantially parallel relation to a supporting surface; a leaf formed substantially in the shape of a trapezoid and having a side edge angularly related to the parallel edges thereof at angles corresponding to the angles between a side edge or the top and the parallel edges thereof, and hinge means secured to said top and leaf along said side edges for pivotally securing said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to over lie the top when in the closed position and adapted to lie in the plane of the top but with the parallel edges of the leaf inclined to the parallel edges Of the top when in the open position;

11. A drop-head abinet for a sewing machine comprising a planar top having a front edge, a

rear edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, said front and rear edges having substantially the same configuration and being spaced apart a substantially constant distance normal to said front edge, said side edges being straight and formed at an obtuse angle of between 95 and 135 to a line drawn between the extremities of the front edge, an elongated sewing machine receiving aperture formed in said top, a plurality of legs for supporting said top in spaced and substantially parallel relation with a supporting 12 surface, walls extending downwardly from the top adjacent the periphery thereof and defining together with said top a sewing machine receiving space adapted to receive a sewing machine in inoperative position, a leaf of substantially the same size and shape as the top and having front and side edges corresponding to said front edge and one of said side edges of said top, and hinge means secured to said top and said leaf along one of said side edges of the top and the corresponding side edge of the leaf for pivotally mounting said leaf to said top whereby said leaf is adapted to overlie the top when in the closed position and to lie in the plane of the top but with the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge thereof inclined to the line drawn between the extremities of the front edge of the top when in the open position.

ADAM BAKER BARNHART.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,279 Gerald July 14, 1885 778,390 Wheeler Dec. 27, 1904 897,520 Brenner Sept. 1, 1908 899,267 Sheehan Sept. 1908 1,245,212 Free Nov. 6, 1917 1,274,475 Wanner Aug. 6, 1918 1,461,058 Welker July 11'), 1923 1,735,535 Feldman Nov. 12, 1929 2,133,127 Waterman Oct. 11, 1983 2,480,668 Paxton Aug. 30, 1949 2,612,421 Bargen Sept. 30, 1952 

